Around Marin County

The Marin Workforce Housing Trust, in partnership with the County of Marin and the Marin Community Foundation, has announced a funding initiative to bring financial resources and technical assistance to ranchers, landowners and other interested parties for the improvement of existing agricultural housingand the creation of new agricultural housing on ranches in West Marin. For more information, read more from KQED, and email Linda Wagner or call (415) 448-0370.

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission (District 3 Winegrape Commission, which includes Marin County) is sponsoring a workshop for "Organic and Sustainable Practices" at the Devils Gulch Ranch vineyard on May 23, 2012. Lunch is included. No fee to attend. Anyone is welcome.

The Sonoma Marin Cheese Trail website and Facebook page are up and are already gathering fans. Not only can the public download the cheese trail map, but gather more detailed information about cheesemakers and upcoming events. Cheesemakers and farmers with information on product to sell, new cheeses, farm or cheese tours, animal and farm photos and videos and even information on farm products other than cheese, are welcome to post on the Facebook page: www.cheesetrail.org. A link to the Facebook page can be found on the website.

Check out these stories about Marin's ranching families - "family conversations" recorded and archived at KWMR. A new episode of The Story Shed is broadcast on the third Thursday of every month at 5pm, on the dial at KWMR 90.5 in Point Reyes Station.

With Spring comes the release of Cowgirl Creamery’s St. Pat, a soft cheese made with whole organic Jersey milk and wrapped with nettle leaves picked at Peter Martinelli's Fresh Run Farm. Its distinctive, green rind, commemorates the arrival of spring; its flavor is mellow and soft and the nettle imparts just a hint of smoky artichoke.

Three Bolinas farmers were awarded $2.4M to construct 5 appropriative water rights ponds. They have dedicated their summer riparian water rights to the salmon in Pine Gulch Creek.

UC just published – the latest in UCANR's series of production manuals for organic growers focuses on winegrowing, “Organic Winegrowing Manual” available here, and “Sprinkle Irrigation of Row and Field Crops,” providing practical information on the design, management, and maintenance of the sprinkle irrigation methods commonly used in California for irrigating field and row crops, available here. Also check out the UC ANR free publication “Tried and True or Something New? Selected Citrus Varieties for the Home Gardener” for tips on choosing the right citrus for your garden, available here.